Illuminated compact



Jan. 10, 1950 E. M. BA1-Es ET A1. 2,494,375

ILLUMINATED COMPACT Filed March 24, 1948 ,Hy J

ll-luu nu INVENTOR. EARL M. BATES HANNAH BATES im f i I ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 10, 1959 UNITED V.srn'rlzs PTENT oFFlcEg Earl M. Bates and Hannah Bates, Chehalis, Wash'. Application March 24, 192218, Serial No. 16,726

of light from the compact.

A further object of our invention is to provide a source of light from a standard flashlight unit, so the parts can be obtained easily for the same.

And a still further object of our invention is to provide a switching device that cannot accidentally be turned on, thereby running down the battery of the lighting unit.

Figure 1 is a perspective plan view of our new and improved make-up compact.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side partially in section View, illustrating the lid of the compact in open position.

3 Claims. (Cl. 132-83) Figure 4 is a view looking into the mirror partially in section for convenience of illustration.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an illustration of the use of our new and improved make-up compact.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

A make-up compact to overcome the objections heretofore mentioned and to carry out the objects of our invention must reflect the rays of light at an angle to the mirror into which the operator is viewing, so that these light rays will completely illuminate the operators face.

This is accomplished by mounting a reflecting light mirror I within the lid 2. The lid 2 is hingedly mounted at 3 to the usual compact base 4, the said mirror is mounted within the enlarged space 5 of the bottom portion of the lid at an angle to the lid, best illustrated in Figure 3. The lid has an enlarged compartment 6 in which a storage battery 1 is carried.

Mounted to the face of the lid 2 is a mirror 8, which corresponds to the regular mirror associated with compacts, but is cut away at 9 so that the light reiiecting mirror I may reect the light rays I Il therethrough from the light globe I I.

The light globe II rests within the thimble I2, which in turn rests upon the spring I 3 bearing on the ledge I4 of the chamber 6. A spring I5 separates the battery 'I from the contact point I6 of 2 l the light -globe II maintaining an open circuit when the compact is not beingv used. Y

We will now describe the switch mechanism for closing the electric circuit through the globe kI I; and the'battery 1. A plunger I1, having an [enf-. larged portion I 8 operating within the opening I9;` ofthe cup 22'bears against the batteryat 2li."` When the plunger I I is forced down by the finger ofthe operator from the position shown in Figure' 3v to that shown in Figure 4, then moved sidewise' of the opening I9 the enlarged portion I8 bears` against the underside of the opening I9, the battery will be held against thecontact point, spring; tension I5 and the tension of the spring I3 insur? ing an electric circuit through the globe II.

The spring I3 is slightly stronger thanA the'v spring I5, therefore after the contact has beenV made between the battery and the globe the spring I3 vwill 'maintainthis connection complete and when the battery is relieved by the switch plunge II the spring will force the battery to the position shown in Figure 3. In Figure 4 the battery has been lowered by the plunger I1 closing the electric circuit through the core of the battery into the point I 6 of the globe I I through the globe into the spring I5 and to the outer casing of the battery.

By aligning the plunger I'I with the center of the hole the enlarged portion I8 will again reenter the said opening I9, allowing the battery to raise to the position shown inFigure 3, breaking the electric circuit. This plunger may be just momentarily brought in contact and held there, but due to its construction it is not apt to be operated accidently without deliberate action. The action of the spring I3 against the thimble I2 and the globe II insures constant contact between the battery and the globe Il when the enlarged portion I8 is bearing on the underside of the hole I9. i

A flange 2| is formed integral with the enlarged portion I8 and prevents the plunger from dropping out through the opening I9 and provides a good mechanical contact against the end of the battery '2l maintaining the plunger in alignment with said battery. The battery and switch assembly is held within the chamber 6 by the threaded closure 22 which is threaded into the chamber at 23'. We do not wish to be limited to the exact mechanical structure of the lighting unit, as other forms of embodiment may be used carrying out the objects of our invention.

In the operation of our new and improved make-up compact the light from the globe II strikes the reiiecting mirror as indicated by the 3 arrows in Figure 3 and reflected by the rays I0 at an angle to the line of vision to the operator looking into the mirror 8. This completely lights up the face, but; at the same time in no way' From the above description andv disclosure ofr our drawings, we have pointed out the advantages of our compact over compacts commonly in use, namely that we light up the face of theoperator and at the same time we do not blind the line of lvision by direct rays of light.

What we claim as new` is:

`1. A compact comprising a container portion anda mirror supportingcover hingedthereto,A a

compartment extending transversely of said cover behind said mirror, an opening through-said mirror into said compartment, agthimble within said compartment. and supporting a light bulb behind said mirror adjacent said opening, a b attery within said :compartment behind said thimble, a spring seated lagainst said `batteryvcasing and coiled about the threadedbase of vsaid light bulb to vbiassaid battery from Vsaid bulb butcomplete one side ofian electric connection therebetween, an apertureinthe-zend-ofsaid compartment behind said battery, annger-operated plunger. seated against said battery-and extending through said aperture to be manually depressed to lforce said battery into contactvvwith the base of the bulb to. complete -thexcircuit therethrough;`

4 and a second mirror angularly positioned in said compartment behind said opening to reiiect light from said bulb outwardly therethrough.

2. A compact as dened in claim 3, wherein said plunger includes a collar substantially the diameter of said aperture and the height of the spacing between the battery and the bulb, and a reduced portion extending outwardly from said collar so that said plunger may be moved inwardly and laterally to hook said collar behind the edge of said aperture to retain said battery in contact with said bulb, and said thimble is resiliently supported to accommodate excessive movement of fthe battery.

i3. A compact comprising a container portion :and a cover. hinged thereto, a mirror within said cover spaced from the Wall of said cover to form a compartment; said mirror having a cut out to .formi an `opening in the lower portion thereof adjacent the surface of the container, a ash Alight Within saidcompartment above the opening f said flashlight outwardly above the surface of the containerv and beyond the first-mentioned mirror when the cover is in open position.

EARL M. BATES. HANNAH BATES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record lin the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

